The Tides That Bind

by Erica Kennedy

Seven friends. Six life-changing decisions. And a weekend getaway they'll never forget....ELISE JORDAN is successful in her career but failing in her relationship. Overworked, unsatisfied and now unexpectedly pregnant by boyfriend, ROLAND EDGEWATER, she has to make a decision but Roland is in no way ready to be a father. A rising advertising executive, Roland is used to putting himself first before anything and everyone else. But when a scandal hits too close to home, he may find himself for once coming in last. TRISHA THOMPSON is facing a career and lifestyle change, and is racing against the clock to make a decision about both. When handsome TROY NAYLOR, an urban clothing storeowner, shows up in her life, the timing couldn't be worse. Now all Troy has to do is convince her that not only is the timing right but that's he's Mr. Right. FREDERICK ROGERS is planning to move his family across country-only they don't know about it. The job of a lifetime has come knocking and all he has to do is convince his wife to give up her dreams and follow him. He seeks counsel in his best friend, MIA MONROE but Mia is toiling with issues of her single motherhood, an abusive ex and a broken heart. That is, until a new prospect comes along and tries to change her stance on love. BRADFORD "BREAD" JONES' life is about survival. Survival from the streets, that is. Now that he's begun to find his way and formed a plan of action for his life and his daughter's, will he survive the next pitfall that awaits him that could threaten to destroy it all? The Tides That Bind these seven friends will be tested during a weekend getaway to St. Maarten. Now each person, standing at a crossroad in his or her life, hopes the vacation will be a time for self-renewal. But a tragedy on the eve of their departure home will force them to decide what's worth holding on to and what needs to be set free.

268 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2005

About the author

Erica Kennedy was an African-American author, blogger, news correspondent, fashion journalist, and singer. Her 2004 novel Bling became a New York Times bestseller. In 2010, she was named to the list of 100 most influential African-Americans, as published by Ebony Magazine and known as the "Ebony Power 100".

Her father died when she was 17 years old. Her mother, Mary Mobley Johnson, was an interior designer. She was raised in Bayside, Queens, with her brother, Kirk Johnson. Kennedy attended Sarah Lawrence College and Oxford University, earning her Bachelors degree in liberal arts from Sarah Lawrence in 1992.

Following her college graduation, Kennedy started her career working as a publicist with various top fashion designers including Tommy Hilfiger and Sean Combs. She worked as a special news correspondent for the New York Daily News before writing on fashion and entertainment for Vibe, InStyle, Paper, and Elle UK. She also wrote a popular blog for the Huffington Post.